Orange County Senator Introduces Bills to Improve Kids' Health in Classrooms and at the Grocery Store

Sen. Tony Strickland's SB 1133 and SB 1134 target health education and CalFresh nutrition standards

State Senator Tony Strickland has introduced two bills targeting children's health -- one updating how preventive health is incorporated into California's curriculum framework, the other seeking to limit CalFresh purchases of sodas, candy, and ultra-processed foods.

State Senator Tony Strickland has introduced a pair of bills aimed at improving children's health — one targeting what gets taught in California classrooms, the other targeting what ends up in shopping carts.

Strickland, a Republican who represents Senate District 36 and took office in early 2025 after winning a special election, introduced Senate Bill 1133, the Ready to Learn, Ready for Health Act, and Senate Bill 1134, the SNAP to Thrive Act. His district includes Westminster, Garden Grove, Fountain Valley, Cypress, and Los Alamitos, among other cities across coastal and central Orange County.

SB 1133: Health Education in the Classroom

SB 1133 would require the state's Instructional Quality Commission to consider evidence-based preventive health instruction when revising California's Health Education Framework. The goal, according to Strickland's office, is to ensure students receive practical guidance on food literacy, sleep, stress management, and digital balance as part of the existing framework review process.

Strickland framed the bill as a complement to academics rather than a curriculum mandate. The legislation does not require specific changes to what schools teach — it directs state curriculum reviewers to factor in preventive health as they do their work.

SB 1134: Reforming CalFresh Purchases

The second bill takes aim at the CalFresh program, California's version of the federal SNAP food assistance benefit. Under current rules, CalFresh benefits can be used to purchase candy, sodas, and other heavily processed foods. SB 1134 would direct the California Department of Social Services to seek a federal waiver to restrict those purchases, limiting benefits for items with low nutritional value.

The waiver approach is necessary because SNAP is a federal program and states cannot unilaterally change purchasing rules without federal approval. If the waiver is granted, the changes would take effect within six months. The bill would also pursue a separate waiver once regulations defining ultra-processed foods under Assembly Bill 1264 (2025) are finalized.

Strickland's office was careful to note that the reform would not reduce families' access to essential foods — the intent is to steer benefits toward healthier options, not cut purchasing power.

The Broader Picture

The two bills arrive as nutrition and children's health have become more prominent issues at both the state and federal level. Efforts to reform SNAP purchasing rules have gained momentum nationally, with some arguing that taxpayer-funded benefits should not subsidize junk food, while critics of such restrictions contend they are paternalistic and could add bureaucratic complexity for families already navigating difficult circumstances.

"As a father of two, I'm always thinking about how to instill positive habits in our kids, so they can grow up healthy and strong," Strickland said in a statement. "My bills help California children build a foundation for learning, growth, and long-term well-being both in the classroom and at home."

Both bills are currently working through the California Legislature.